Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday, October 27 called on local chief executives to make a strategic shift in disaster risk reduction and management to bolster the country’s resilience to disasters and natural calamities.
Legarda said that following the widespread devastation wrought by severe tropical storm Kristine, local chief executives should start considering community-centered, locally driven initiatives as a means to address the disaster and climate change risks within their jurisdictions.
“Local leaders must not only recognize these dangers but also educate their constituents and work together to mitigate them,” Legarda stated.
“The aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine underscores the need for proactive measures at the local level,” she emphasized.
Likewise, government agencies, she said, plays an important role in empowering local government units (LGUs) in reducing disaster losses and respond effectively.
“Agencies like the Climate Change Commission, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) are crucial in ensuring that Local Climate Change Action Plans and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans are science-based, up-to-date, and responsive to climate impacts,” she stressed.
It is also critical to tap state universities and colleges (SUCs) as essential partners in guiding LGUs on risk assessment and local development planning, Legarda pointed out.
“Their expertise is invaluable for effective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” she noted.
Legarda, an advocate of disaster risk reduction, also cited the need to prioritize local community engagement and capacity building in effective disaster risk management.
“From November to 2025, I will be organizing workshops for local governments focused on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. This commitment is about ensuring that preparedness reaches the last mile and is practiced by the people most at risk,” she said.
Legarda also underscored the need for risk-informed development and disaster-resilient infrastructure, including strengthened early warning and response systems across all levels.
“Communities must be aware of flood and landslide risks to enable proactive disaster prevention. Timely forecasting, early warning, and rapid access to pre-positioned resources save lives,” she emphasized.
Beyond providing immediate relief, Legarda, who has joined in distributing essential supplies to families affected by “Kristine,” said a long-term strategy is needed to address vulnerabilities especially in underserved areas.
“We must support agricultural and fishing communities in building back stronger through alternative livelihoods and social programs,” she emphasized.